(SOLD) This is a 1942 White Dot Sheaffer Triumph fountain pen in striated Carmine celluloid, with a 14k gold, two-tone Lifetime Fine nib. The pen has been restored, which included a complete disassembly, a gentle cleaning, an overhaul of the filling mechanism, ink flow adjustment, a nib tune-up, and a gentle polish with a soft cloth (by hand). I work according to current "best practices" in pen restoration and I use high-quality replacement materials. I completely removed the old Sheaffer "packing" material and replaced it with a modern material that's of higher quality and better durability than the original. This is a full-size pen, measuring 5.1" capped and 0.47" in diameter.

As the U.S. entered World War II, the pen industry was at a pivotal stage in its history. Sheaffer was tasked by the Government to manufacture high-precision components for the war effort, including mission-critical bomb fuses. Despite severe material and labor shortages, the Iowa company not only succeeded in staying afloat, but it also fulfilled its obligations, hired new staff, and expanded its real estate. Sheaffer attributed a lot of its success to its use of high-quality materials, such as gold and celluloid, and, most importantly, its advanced research laboratories. Sheaffer engineers worked tireless to perfect the fountain pen as a writing instrument, and its child was the Triumph nib and feed system.

Sheaffer Triumph Fountain Pen, Carmine, F, nib close-up

The pen I am offering today is a great example of the venerable Sheaffer Triumph. Made of the gorgeous striated Carmine celluloid, with a wide gold-filled cap band and the characteristic rounded clip, the pen is one of the most beautiful writing instruments of the 1940s. The pen is in fantastic condition, with a gleaming, deep, rich, and vibrant material, a nicely transparent barrel, and excellent trim. In fact, the pen is so gorgeous that it would feel completely at home in a display case next to some of the modern Italian celluloid pens by Montegrappa.

The large Triumph Lifetime nib is in superb condition. It lays down a Fine line of about 0.5 mm (on my paper), and it glides across the page effortlessly. The nib is designed on the rocker principle, which gives it a unique feel and a large "sweet spot." In daily writing, the pen will feel smooth, virtually regardless of your grip, holding angle, and rotation about the page. It writes equally good strokes in all directions, without ever catching the paper or feeling scratchy. Yet, despite the smoothness, the nib writes confidently, never having any hard-start or skipping issues that plague modern buttery smooth nibs. And if you need an XXF line, just flip it upside down - it was designed to be able to write this way, too. The vacuum filling mechanism works efficiently and holds more ink than some of the largest modern piston fillers.